Whether you push yourself to learn extra skills, ask if you can do more or just plain work hard, bosses want to see if we have that “special something.”

So, business leaders: what does it mean to demonstrate potential? Below are several answers from the survey.

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Although those things sound basic it’s what sets good new employees apart from those who won’t last long in the company.”

“I have a young employee who was given the responsibility of maintaining a complex database. She proceeded to attend every webinar and a free class on her own time in addition to reading technical manuals.

She developed her skill set and is now in the position of teaching those seniors to her how to use the database.”

Why was he chosen? Because he was seen as putting in extra time and thought at the lower level, and therefore having the potential to grow into the higher level position.”

“In twenty years as an executive manager I can count on one hand the number of employees that showed initiative, as just described. Each one was promoted multiple times and they are still being promoted.